Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of dronabinol have not been performed in children with AIDS-related anorexia (loss of appetite). Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of Syndros™ have not been performed in children with nausea and vomiting caused by cancer medicines. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of Marinol® in children with nausea and vomiting caused by cancer medicines. However, because of this medicine's effects on brain function, it should be used with caution.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of dronabinol in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have dementia or age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving dronabinol.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Disulfiram
  • Metronidazole

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Itraconazole

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Alcohol abuse or dependence, history of or
  • Drug abuse or dependence, history of—Dependence on dronabinol may develop.
  • Allergy to alcohol, history of—Should not be used in patients with this condition.
  • Bipolar disorder (manic or depressive illness), or history of or
  • Heart disease or
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
  • Schizophrenia (mental illness), or history of or
  • Seizures, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Portions of this document last updated: June 01, 2023